Pakistan summons Indian envoy over killing of 3 civilians

Pakistan on Monday summoned a senior Indian diplomat and protested cross-border shelling that killed three civilians in two days, officials said.

The foreign ministry said that 15 civilians were also injured as a result of the latest Indian fire along the Line of Control in the disputed Kashmir region.

"The Indian Deputy High Commissioner was called by the Director General (South Asia & SAARC) Monday. A protest was lodged against unprovoked ceasefire violations on August 15 to 16, by Indian troops at the Line of Control in Kotli Sector, which resulted in martyrdom of three civilians," the Foreign Ministry said.

"The Deputy High Commissioner was conveyed that the Indian side must investigate the incident, share the findings of the investigations with Pakistan, instruct its troops to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit, and maintain peace on the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir," a statement said.

The statement said Pakistan notes with regret and deep concern that during the last two months, so far, there have been 70 ceasefire violations from the Indian side of the LoC and the Working Boundary.

Pakistan and India had declared ceasefire in 2003 and guns had been relatively silent along the LoC, however, both sides occasionally exchange fire. An escalation had been seen in recent weeks.

On its part, India also claims that Pakistan violated the ceasefire agreement that cause casualties on the Indian side. India also summoned Pakistani High Commissioner in New Delhi, Abdul Basit, and a protest was lodged over the incidents.

Top security advisers of the two countries are scheduled to meet in New Delhi on August 23-24 to discuss anti-terror measures and how to reduce tensions along the LoC.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, had met at Ufa in Russia, last month and agreed on the meeting of the national security advisers.